Content addressable information encapsulation, representation and transfer
First Claim
1. A method for use in a computer system comprising at least first and second computers, wherein the first computer provides content addressable storage, the method comprising an act of:
- (A) transmitting, from the second computer to the first computer, a request to access a first portion of a unit of data stored by the first computer, the request identifying the unit of data via an identifier that is based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data, the first portion of the unit of data comprising less than the entire unit of data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Representing a number of assets on an originating computer begins with selecting the assets to be represented. Cryptographic hash asset identifiers are generated; each of the asset identifiers is computed using the contents of a particular asset. The asset identifier is a content-based or content-addressable asset name for the asset and is location independent. An asset list is generated that includes the asset identifiers computed from the assets. A cryptographic hash asset list identifier is generated that is computed from the asset list. The asset list identifier is stored for later retrieval. The assets selected are also stored for safekeeping either locally or on a computer network. In the event of loss of the files from the originating computer, the asset list identifier is retrieved. Using the asset list identifier, the original asset list is found and retrieved from its safe location. The asset identifiers from the retrieved asset list are used to find and retrieve the individual assets from their backup locations. The assets are verified by recomputing the cryptographic hash asset identifier for each asset retrieved and comparing it to the asset identifier from the asset list. The MD5 algorithm is used for the cryptographic hash function. Assets are retrieved using a multicast protocol. A series of importer programs searches for assets to retrieve in progressively more remote locations. Assets are retrieved whole or in segments.
65 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for use in a computer system comprising at least first and second computers, wherein the first computer provides content addressable storage, the method comprising an act of:
(A) transmitting, from the second computer to the first computer, a request to access a first portion of a unit of data stored by the first computer, the request identifying the unit of data via an identifier that is based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data, the first portion of the unit of data comprising less than the entire unit of data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. At least one computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on a computer system, perform a method, the computer system comprising at least first and second computers, wherein the first computer provides content addressable storage, the method comprising an act of:
(A) transmitting, from the second computer to the first computer, a request to access a first portion of a unit of data stored by the first computer, the request identifying the unit of data via an identifier that is based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data, the first portion of the unit of data comprising less than the entire unit of data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A second computer for use in a computer system comprising at least a first computer and the second computer, wherein the first computer provides content addressable storage, the second computer comprising:
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an output for transmitting access requests; and
at least one controller, coupled to the output, that transmits, from the second computer to the first computer, a request to access a first portion of a unit of data stored by the first computer, the request identifying the unit of data via an identifier that is based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data, the first portion of the unit of data comprising less than the entire unit of data. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification